Video: Texas cop fatally shoots fleeing driver

The driver's family plans to pursue civil charges against the department

By Claire Z. Cardona
The Dallas Morning News

ARLINGTON, Texas — Arlington police released body-camera footage Thursday from the fatal shooting of a man who drove away while an officer had his arm inside the window.

Two officers had stopped an SUV to ask about an expired registration about 1:45 p.m. Saturday in the 2200 block of California Lane. One of the officers smelled marijuana and went back to the patrol car to run some checks while the other officer stayed near the passenger side of the vehicle, police said.

The officer by the SUV asked the driver, 24-year-old Oshae Terry of Forest Hills, to turn the engine off and roll down the windows. Terry initially complied, but minutes later began to roll the windows up, police said.

The officer can be seen in the video posted by KDFW-TV (Channel 4) sticking his hand in the window and telling Terry to stop. The driver said something and started to drive away with the officer's arm still in the window.

The officer, who appeared to be standing on the running board of the SUV, quickly pulled out his gun and fired, striking Terry. The officer fell to the ground as the SUV kept rolling down the street.

Terry died at a nearby hospital. The officer was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital the same day.

A passenger in the SUV, who was not injured, was detained but later released. Police have not released that person's name.

Officers later found about a pound of marijuana, ecstasy pills and a .40-caliber handgun in the SUV.

The names of the officers have not been released. The officer who shot Terry is an eight-year veteran assigned to the patrol division, police said

It is the first time Arlington police have released body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting, Lt. Christopher Cook said.

Terry's family told WFAA-TV (Channel 8)that the video proves the officer used excessive force. Police told the station the officer feared for his life.

Attorney Lee Merritt, who is representing Terry's family, said the officer should have stepped back.

"It's clear that no one rolled up a window on an officer. The officer clearly wasn't being dragged. He was holding on to the car," Merritt told KDFW. "At no point was the officer in any danger for his life or anyone else for that matter."

The family plans to pursue civil charges against the department, the station reported.